A review by pdxpagemaster
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is exactly what I want out of a high fantasy.

I want differing perspectives influenced by nuanced political alignments.

I want a will-they-won’t-they romance.

I want queerness that is so normalized it’s seen as earnest love.

I want morally grey characters that aren’t villains but still help in a common goal.

I want vibrant world building that showcases unique hierarchical systems of governing and society.

And duh, DRAGONS.

This book was one I was intimidated to begin for so long and now I’m SO GLAD I dove in. Once I finally started it only took me a couple of days to get through and then I was consumed in the world.

On to the next!